Gut pains, courtesy of Macdonald

If you want to know why the public is so disillusioned with the State Government, look no further than Ian Macdonald. As well as being responsible for primary industry, farms, power stations, mines and the development of the state, Macdonald is supposed to ensure the safety of food from restaurants and takeaways ...

When you get food poisoning after dining out, Macdonald is the man ultimately responsible, not that you'd know it.

Food poisoning is an issue all over the world. To keep levels as low as possible, developed countries do three things: employ food inspectors, educate workers about food safety and, increasingly, they tell people the truth. Macdonald doesn't mind the first two, it's the last one that makes him gag.

When Britain got freedom of information laws three years ago, one of the first decisions by the information commissioner was to rule that results of restaurant inspections carried out by public servants were public information. He said what's obvious to most people: it is in the public interest for people to know what inspectors found.

His decision was in line with what's been happening for decades in America, where restaurant inspection results are as common as restaurant reviews. And for good reason.

A Stanford University study of Los Angeles restaurants proved what most people knew - hospital admissions from food poisoning plunged 13.3 per cent a decade ago when restaurants were forced to display their inspection results. Restaurants lifted their game.

Macdonald won't explain his refusal but you'd have to think he's terrified of what might emerge. In NSW, councils are supposed to inspect restaurants, but many don't. Even some big councils, like Leichhardt, have gone for years without imposing a single fine.

Following the international model, they would tell diners where problems had been found and where there was no proper system of inspection. In NSW it may reveal the whole system is woefully under-resourced.

Instead of telling the public the truth, Macdonald yesterday introduced legislation misleadingly called the Food Amendment (Public Information) Bill. As usual, he wrote a duplicitous press release to go with it which did not mention that he has junked his earlier written promise to publish the details of fines imposed on restaurants. Oh, and he leaked the press release to a gullible media outlet.

The legislation is a shell. All it does is let him name a handful of restaurants which he may decide, on some as yet unpublished criteria, are guilty of "serious offences".

If you want to know what effect the law will have, look at what happened in July last year after the Herald revealed a sushi factory had been fined 11 times and closed twice and the public was never told. Macdonald issued a shower of press releases promising a "name and shame register to identify dodgy outlets".

The register is now on the NSW Food Authority website but eight months on there's still not a single restaurant on it, just a chicken shop and a distiller that sold under-strength scotch.

Macdonald justified his decision to ignore what Britain and US are doing this way. "I am not saying any country is wrong, but this is Australia." How reassuring.

He prefers to issue misleading press releases and pass meaningless legislation than engage in the struggle that real change involves.

No wonder you could almost hear the public belly laugh as they read Morris Iemma's article in the Herald yesterday pledging "to deliver improved services for the people of NSW ... No-one should underestimate my determination". Sure Morris.

Posted
by SMH OnlineMarch 1, 2008 11:26 AM

LATEST COMMENTS

This state government is on the *bleeping* nose, for God's sake Marie Bashir, Michael Jeffrey, Her Maj, anyone, sack the useless, disgusting, moribund bastards, and spare us all anymore of their pathetic shenanigans!

Posted by: davo on March 1, 2008 11:43 AM

Not only that but Macdonald has opened the way for genetically modified food to be introduced to this state by ending the moratorium placed on it. The seriousness of that decision I am sure is lost on him as is his general indifference to the health of the people in this state...a can of worms, pandora's box, call it what you will, GMOs being introduced into this state is going to devastate the quality of our crops and the marketability of our exports not to mention the health implications for our food and environment...and Ian MacDonald is the man to thank!

Posted by: Helen on March 1, 2008 1:13 PM

If the full extent of inspections were to be knowm, it would be obvious that it was possible to go for years without an inspection.

When I worked at a Council, it was a relatively small country place. It is now part of the northwest sector and has a similar number of health and building inspectors. Much of the work of building inspection is now done by private industry, so comparisons are difficult. But the thing that is obvious now about the Council's staff is how young and inexperienced they are. Inexperience means they have little idea what is important and what is not... there is only the regulation as a guide.

This is an unintended consequence of splitting functions between public and private sectors. Yet another initiative of this State Government regime which is questionable.

Posted by: Toby on March 1, 2008 1:23 PM

good old NSW boy's club Carr-leftover government:

Corrupt to the core, yet blowing hot air as if heating bills are paid by someone else!

Don't worry about McDonald: there will always be a convenient sheila somewhere to use as a scapegoat.

Look at the Wollongoing case for a perfect example. Everyone knows Tripodi knew what was going on: one would have to ask what the heck was he doing if he didn't! Yet who cops the blame?

This government needs a royal commission into corruption. ALL of it, not just the scapegoat-de-jour!

And if Costa goes ahead and privatises power against everyone else in the ALP and then lands a cushy job in the aftermath, then a royal commission MUST BE HELD!

Posted by: Noons on March 1, 2008 1:30 PM

I work for the NSW FA and yes Minister (Don't ever call him Mr.) MacDonald, is very good at ducking and weaving he is known as the limbo artist. Can't wait for this government to go, Perhaps there should be an ICAC investigation at the Authority.

Posted by: NSW FA Employee on March 1, 2008 2:57 PM

Ian MacDonald - if you, or your many paid assistants are reading this, it may be a good idea to seek legal advice before someone sues you for dereliction of duty.

Posted by: Danny on March 1, 2008 3:15 PM

The Government is on the nose for many things. So who is MacDonald protecting this time?

Posted by: Joe Public on March 1, 2008 3:17 PM

I know two public health inspectors personally. Neither will ever eat out at a restaurant, cafe or takeaway after what they have seen over the years.
It is a disgrace that this government refuses to publish the details like other countries do.

Posted by: Paul Wainwright on March 1, 2008 4:32 PM

I am not saying any country is wrong, but this is Australia...

And?

Could it be that no self respecting germ wanted to live here or something?

Posted by: Jules on March 1, 2008 5:14 PM

Late last year I had lunch with three other people at an extremely well known fish restaurant in the eastern suburbs. Of the four of us I was the only one who had the $17 Seafood Chowder and on the way home, I only got from Watson's Bay to William Street before I began to feel woozy and by the time we had turned onto Crown Street I knew I wasn't going to make the Bridge, so I pulled over.

Sure enough all the chowder erupted beside the footpath and I also had to stop at two gas station toilets on the way back to Avalon. Yuk. When I spoke to my companions the next day one suggested that I complain, but I declined because all the restaurant might offer in compensation was a free meal. Fegeddit. No way would I ever go back there. So I let it pass.

However if Mr, McDonald had a Register to show up the bad operators, chances are this restaurant would feature quite heavily and I would have been saved a nasty experience.

Posted by: avalonartist on March 1, 2008 6:06 PM

The fact that the public is still not informed of the results of food outlet inspections and the results of some of our media restaurant programs confirms my view that eating out can be hazardous more often than not.
Before eating at a food outlet, maybe one should inspect the kitchen and staff or at least watch them at work.
Countless times I have seen staff at food outlets re using disposable gloves and handling money.

Posted by: Graeme Mc on March 1, 2008 8:17 PM

Totally sums up the crap we have to put up with here in NSW with our busted arse of a state government.

If our state government was like a public company, and the board were the current pollies, seriously there would be a mass dismissal.

For Macdonald not to try and service all of the SHAREHOLDERS of NSW correctly on this issue is a discrace.

Constantly as a nation our pollies dont learn enough from the good initiatives of other countries as per the article.

I pray, Mr Macdonald, that you get food poisoning as a result.

Please NSW state government......please do something good for us.....we are all bleading!

Posted by: Max on March 1, 2008 9:12 PM

Its sad that the only way I knew a particular ethnic take-away had been cited innumerable times for breaches of the act was a friend who worked as an inspector whispering that I may wish to reconsider my habit of grabbing lunch there, for reasons she could neither confirm nor deny.

If restaurants and food outlets comply with the Act and do the right thing, what do they have to fear?

Instead, as with health, Iemma's government has again pulled the shroud of secrecy around an underfunded (part)portfolio to mask the incompetency with which it has been (mis)managed and the dangerous consequences of that mismanagement.

Shame on us for voting them back in.

Posted by: jasmin on March 2, 2008 11:36 AM

this isn't government for the people. it is govenment by contempt for the voter. it is a government for businessmen, especially those who would otherwise have no chance of otherwise being allowed to trade. Not only the restaurant industry- look at public transport, health, child abuse and promises made versus promises kept. And reporting on statistics. Congratulations to those who voted for one of the most secretive and contemptuous bunch of sleazebags ever to sully the stage of politics in this country.

Posted by: tom1 on March 3, 2008 11:00 AM

The only citizens the NSW government is concerned about are big business and developers.

Does any one know how we can convince Marie Bashir to sack the NSW government?